Clasp and tag for envelopes



(No Model.\

, A. L. SBWELLQ CLASP AND TAG FOR ENV-ELOPES.

No. 425,053. Patented Apr. 8. 1890.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OF IC ALFRED L. SEVVELL, OF EVANSTON, ILLINOIS.

7 CLASP AND TAG FOR ENVELOPES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 425,053, dated April 8, 1890.

Application filed January 30, 1888. Serial No. 262 ,306. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED L. SEWELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Evanston, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new, useful, and Improved Clasp for Envelopes, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of the back of an envelope with the clasp attached. Fig. 2 is a detail showing the clasp detached. Fig. 3 is a detail showing one flap of the clasp. Fig. 4 is a detail showing the connecting strap or clamp open or unfolded. Fig. 5 is a detail showing the wire loop for attaching the strap or clamp to the flaps. Fig. 6 is a cross-section on line was of Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a cross-section on line y y of Fig. 1.

This invention has for its object to provide novel, efficient, durable, and economical clasp devicesfor securely closing sample and like envelopes, while permitting them to be conveniently and quickly opened and reclosed as occasion may demand.

The object of the invention is accomplished by the features of construction and combination, of devices hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, A indicates the envelope; B, the clasp; a b, the end flaps of the envelope A; c c, the side flaps of the envelopeA; d, the attaching flaps or tabs of the clasp B; 8, wire loops; f, the connecting fastener or clamp; g, a re-enforcing strip; h, an eyelet.

The envelope A is made of paper or other suitable material and folded in the usual form, one flap a being left open ,for the insertion of the contents, and the side flaps c c and end flap 61 being gummed down as usual.

The clasp B is formed as follows: The flaps or attaching-tabs d are made separate, and

preferably as shown in Fig. 3. The flap a of the envelope may be gummed or not, as desired. The tabs or flaps d are gummed on one side, the loop 6 is placed in the position indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 3, and the extended end of the tab .or flap is moistened and folded back so as to hold the loop in place. It is then ready for attachment to the envelope. The form of the tabs d is not material. The form shown gives a neat appearance; but it is evident that various forms may be used. A tab with its loop in place may be attached to the flap a, but usually it will be more convenient to connect them together, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6, and apply them to the envelope after it is filled, so that the clasp will accommodate itself to the filling or contents. The clasp-plate f is best made of thin tin or taggars metal in the form shown at Fig. 4, and it is usually attached to one or both of the loops 6 and bent at or about the dotted lines there shown. WVhen attached to one flap (Z only, the opposite end will be bent nearly to a right angle, so as to receive and hold the other loop, and when the second loop 6 is in place it is then bent to place, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 6.

When the envelope is to be opened for inspection, or otherwise, the uncovered end of the clamp or holding-plate f is turned up,

when the envelope is readily opened without injury to the envelope or its contents, and may then be readily reclosed, as the plate may be bent many times without destroying it.

The tabs (1 and clamp B may be used on any form of envelope, as they are equally efficient with envelopes opening at the side, and are therefore separately useful as envelope attachments.

A cheap form of envelope for special uses may be made by attaching the loops e to one or both of the opposite flaps of the envelope and connecting them by the clamp f or by its equivalent, made of wire.

It is desirable in many cases to use a shipping or direction tag instead of a direct marking on the envelope or package; but it is difficult to so attach such direction-tag to paper that it will be certain to remain, and to obviate this difficulty I apply a thin strip of metal 9 to the interior of the envelope at one end and hold it in place by an eyelet h, which fastens the strip g to the paper and furnishes a hole or opening for a direction-tag. By this arrangement I furnish awide bearing for the strip g, which enables it to resist strain and prevents the tearing of the envelope.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A clasp for closing envelopes, comprising an adhesive tag carrying a wire loop and one edge a wire loop, and a thin metal claspplate pivoted to one of said loops and folded longitudinally upon itself, engaging both Wire loops and having one folded part adapted to be turned up and down, substantially as de- I 5 scribed.

ALFRED L. SEWELL. Witnesses:

HARRY T. J ONES, ALBERT II. ADAMS. 

